Girls on Hills, the award-winning outdoor experiences provider, and Hostelling Scotland, the self-funded hostel accommodation charity, have announced the launch of The Girls on Hills Door-to-Door Challenge, a collection of 16 accessible trail and hill route walking or running challenges in some of Scotland’s most iconic landscapes, direct from the doorsteps of eight of Hostelling Scotland’s Youth Hostels.
The collaborative project, the brainchild of Girls on Hills co-founder Keri Wallace (author of guidebook Running Challenges), has been designed to encourage solo-friendly and small group travel and adventuring, promote the benefits of hostelling and encourage visitors to easily explore the best of Scotland’s great outdoors on foot direct from their accommodation.
The focus for the challenge is very much on accessibility.
Pick up a Door-to-Door Challenge booklet from the Youth Hostel reception, pick the most suitable route, study the map and head out of the front door and straight into Scotland’s great outdoors for a totally stress free and personal adventure.
Eight of Hostelling Scotland’s most popular hostels are participating; Cairngorm Lodge, Crianlarich, Glen Nevis, Glencoe, Loch Ossian, Lochranza on the Isle of Arran, Torridon and Braemar.
Two accessible route options, a lowland trail and an upland hill route with distances and ascents to suit a mix of fitness and skill levels, have been designed by Girls on Hills for each hostel, each with a route marked map supplied by Harvey Maps, and clear directions in the Door-to-Door Challenge booklet.
Lowland trail route distances range from the 5.5km (152m ascent) Lion’s Face Loop from Braemar Youth Hostel to the 12.4km Three Glens route (408m ascent) from Lochranza Youth Hostel on the Isle of Arran.
The upland routes range from the 7.4km (689m ascent) Melantee route from Glen Nevis Youth Hostel to the 11.8km (363m ascent) Back of Liathach route from Torridon Youth Hostel.
The Girls on Hills Door-to-Door Challenge is not a race, with much more of the emphasis on the physical fitness and mental well-being benefits of venturing into the hills.
Challengers have the freedom to set their own route goals, running and/or walking solo or with friends, family or in a group, and completing each route at their own pace and in their own time.
When Challengers have completed one route at a participating Youth Hostel they can collect bragging rights with a Door-to-Door Challenge hostel stamp in their booklet.
When they have received a stamp from all eight hostels they will be rewarded with a very special Door-to-Door Challenge completion certificate for maximum kudos.
Six of the participating hostels are WoofHostels, dog friendly hostels, so Challengers can bring their four-legged furry friends with them when completing most of the routes.
The Door-to-Door Challenge initiative sits at the confluence of several key travel trends, including the rise of slow tourism, authentic travel experiences and regenerative/sustainable practices.
It also links-in with scientific support for and growing use of ‘nature prescriptions’ to improve physical and mental health and wellbeing, in a population that is increasingly screen-addicted and disconnected from nature.
Scientific research also reveals that the concept of ‘challenge’ is a fundamental tool in positive psychology (the scientific study of what makes life worth living), helping to foster happiness and emotional wellbeing.
Keri Wallace from Girls on Hills, said:
“I’m excited to see people tackling the Door-to-Door Challenge.
“We have chosen eight of our favourite hostels and some classic hills and trails to challenge everyone and showcase the very best that Scotland has to offer.
“I am a big fan of personal challenges as a way of adding some extra purpose and structure when visiting new places.
“The Door-to-Door Challenge is a great way to combine the many advantages of Hostelling in some great locations with an opportunity to explore some of Scotland’s most fantastic landscapes on foot, with the added reward of achieving a personal goal.”
Margo Paterson, CEO of Hostelling Scotland, said:
“Hostelling has long been at the heart of sustainable travel and outdoor adventure.
“For nearly 95 years we have provided a warm welcome, comfy beds and fantastic hospitality for anyone looking to explore and enjoy Scotland.
“This collaborative project is a fantastic way to help promote the natural benefits of the great outdoors and is the perfect lead into our 95th anniversary celebrations in 2026.”
